“Which leads me to the next topic I wanted to discuss with you. Have you had any responses since your last two interviews?”
“I have. Actually, they both want me to come in for another interview. But I can’t think about that right now. Like you, my judgment is totally impaired. How can I make smart decisions about my future when every minute I’m waiting for the phone to ring with the news that Jeremy has been found? This is no way for either of us to live, Vic. So I have an idea.”
He moved away from the fence and put his hands on his hips in a
way that was all male. When he did that, she couldn’t help but feast her eyes on him. “What’s that?”
“Since you’re on vacation, what’s to stop you and me from looking for leads on our own time? While Ranger Rodriguez conducts an official investigation, we can do our own thing behind the scenes and work around your therapy sessions. You have creative genius. That’s what Kit tells me, and I’ve seen it for myself. So why don’t we follow some of your hunches and see what we can come up with undercover, so to speak? Otherwise I’ll go crazy, too.”
“It’s no wonder Jeremy loves you so much. He says you’re more fun than any of his friends.”
“That’s high praise.” She laughed sadly.
“It is. The only trouble with your suggestion is we won’t be playing for fun. What we do could be very dangerous.”
“More dangerous than what has happened to Jeremy?” she challenged. “We’ve got to find him, Vic, and I know you couldn’t possibly let this case go. Jeremy needs us.” She moved closer to him. “Will you think about it?”
“Claire—Damn it. Your tears get to me every time.”
“So do yours,” she whispered. “Call that psychiatrist and set up your therapy schedule. We’ll plan each day according to your appointment and then follow a different lead until your son comes home. No one has to know what we’re doing. We’ll fly under the radar.”
“You watch too many Law and Order shows.”
“I’ve learned a few things, but there’s no better teacher than you. Jeremy idolizes the ground you walk on.”
He smoothed a tendril of hair away from her eyes. “Today I came home feeling like I was dying. But your idea has given me some new energy. You’re good for me, Claire.” He pressed a brief kiss to her mouth. The first he’d ever given her. “My greatest fear is that I won’t be good for you. If anything happened to you because of me...”
“Nothing’s going to happen to either one of us.” Her whole body tingled from the kiss he’d just given her. She knew he was seeking comfort and didn’t look at it in any other way. “Let’s get back to the house. While you call to arrange your therapy sessions, I’ll fix us lunch and we’ll plan our strategy. After we’ve eaten, we’ll get started.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They mounted their horses. This time she grabbed Comet’s lead and he walked next to her and Marshmallow. Vic took off in a gallop to give his horse a workout. Then he galloped back and walked with them the rest of the way to the barn.
While he took care of the horses and fed them, she went in the house. After washing her hands, she made tuna fish sandwiches, a Malone family favorite. She added a bowl of potato chips and some sodas. He made the call to set up his therapy appointments, then sat down at the kitchen table with her to eat.
She pushed the bowl in front of him. “What’s the verdict?”
“I’m going to see Dr. Marshall every weekday starting tomorrow. He’s aware of why the captain has given me vacation time. Fortunately for me, he’s willing to accommodate me so I won’t lose too much time before getting back to work. I’m supposed to report to him in the mornings at nine. The sessions are usually an hour.”
“Do you know this doctor?”
“Yes. He gave me counseling after the tornado happened. That was such a black period—I try to block it from my mind. But I swear this experience is worse. Jeremy is so young with his whole life ahead of him...”
“Children and animals,” she murmured. “They’re so helpless.” She finished her sandwich. “I’m glad you’ll be seeing someone who knows your history.”
“He’s a good man.”
“Vic? What’s the first thing you would do if you were still in charge?”
“I’d drive to Buda and talk to someone in the bar.” Claire recognized that with his razor-sharp brain, he’d already known what his next move would be. “It’s only a half hour drive from here. I want to find out if anyone there knew Leroy. Was he a regular? What was the draw when he could have gone anywhere else?”
“I’ve been wondering the same thing. When he joined the military, where was his home?”
“The rap sheet listed his home as Austin.”
“Buda’s considered to be on the outskirts of the metro area. Maybe he’s from there, Vic, or he has a relative there and that’s why he had a decal on his truck. People don’t put things like that on their cars or trucks unless it’s meaningful for them.”
“Agreed.”